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Re: [OM] Filter Quality

Subject: Re: [OM] Filter Quality
From: "Danrich" <danrich@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2003 13:09:37 -1000
Once again Moose your contribution to the Oly page is greatly
appreciated.
Being so close to the ocean I figure I better cap the spendy lens with
more than a lens cap.
Got my first roll back using my newly ebay purchaced Tamron 35-105 and
used it without the hood that the seller forgot to send and no front
filter and the contract was stunning with no flares.
Maybe it was the Kodak 100 VS that made the pictures look like I was
using a polarizer or maybe it's the intense Hawaiian sun.
XDan

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Moose
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2003 12:46 PM
To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [OM] Filter Quality

There is almost certainly a positive relationship between brand/price 
and the odds of getting a good filter, but brand and price aren't 
guarantees.. Take a look in Gary's tests 
<http://members.aol.com/olympusom/lenstests/default.htm> at the paired 
tests of a "50mm f/1.4 Zuiko (multi-coated) OM-2000 with mirror and 
diaphram prefire; lens with >1,100,000 serial number" with and without a

bad filter. and note his comments:

"Contrast was slightly lower with the filter, but lower resolution was 
the most important factor in image deterioriation. Please note that this

particular filter is not indicative of Vivitar or Vivitar VMC filters, 
in general. It just tested as a poor sample. Other filter makers, even 
the most highly regarded, have been found to have poor samples in 
selections taken from used and new stocks of filters. The use of the 
term "poor" means star test images, viewed on a vertical auto 
collimeter, which show images that are: multiple and overlapping, fuzzy,

off center, and images which rotate when the lens is rotated. More often

than not, only one of these faults are found in an examined filter. 
These filters (including the test filter) often look perfectly good when

examined without the aid of instrumentation!"

I think a good strategy is to buy name brand MC filters and do a couple 
of with/without tests, including one with a bright point light source 
and one with fine detail, before relying on it for important shots. My 
general rule is not to use filters except in hostile environments or 
where the filter is part of the photographic process, rather than just 
lens protections. Otherwise, I use hood and lens cap to protect the
lens.

The top brands also offer some non-optical features like thinner 
filters, brass filter holders, which are less likely to bind, etc for 
the premium prices.

Moose

Danrich wrote:

>Has anyone done any testing or know of a report of the quality
>differences between a B&W down through the cheapest filter in UV
>category?
>The Price of a 67mm UV Filter goes from $60. to $5.
>



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